Medical technologies - medicines, vaccines and medical devices - are essential for public health. Access to essential
medicines and research to address neglected diseases have been a major concern for many years. More
recently, the focus of health policy debate has broadened to consider how to promote innovation and how to ensure
equitable access to all vital medical technologies.

Today's health policy-makers need a clear understanding both of the innovation processes that lead to new technologies
and of the ways in which these technologies are disseminated in health systems. This study seeks to reinforce the
understanding of the interplay between the distinct policy domains of health, trade and intellectual property, and of how they
affect medical innovation and access to medical technologies. It captures a broad range of experience and data in dealing
with the interplay between intellectual property, trade rules and the dynamics of access to, and innovation in, medical
technologies. A collaborative effort by the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the
World Trade Organization draws together the three Secretariats respective areas of expertise.

The study is intended to inform ongoing technical cooperation activities undertaken by the three organizations and to
support policy discussions. Based on many years of field experience in technical cooperation, the study has been prepared
to serve the needs of policy-makers who seek a comprehensive presentation of the full range of issues, as well as
lawmakers, government officials, delegates to international organizations, non-governmental organizations and researchers.